YouTube and prights exercise organization SESAC A licensing agreement has been reached.
News emerged over the weekend that some music videos by several popular artists including Adele, Kendrick Lamar, Nirvana, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Mariah Carey and others have been blocked in the United States.
The content was removed due to a licensing dispute between the platform and SESAC.
YouTube said in a statement posted on social media over the weekend that its music licensing agreement with SESAC had expired “despite our best efforts, we have not yet reached agreement on renewal terms.”
The dispute has now been resolved. SESAC said today (September 30) that it had reached an agreement with YouTube to “fairly compensate SESAC’s songwriters and publishers for the use of their music”.
SESAC Performance Rights President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Jungmichel said that during negotiations between SESAC and YouTube, its “affiliates’ works were unilaterally removed by YouTube before the contract end date of October 1, 2024.”
However, SESAC and YouTube have now confirmed that the music videos will be restored on the platform once the new deal comes into effect.
YouTube said in a statement to social media earlier today that it would restore the missing content “within the next day or two.”
“We are pleased to announce that YouTube has reached an agreement with SESAC.”
Youtube
YouTube said: “If you are in the United States ➡️, we are happy to tell you that YouTube has reached an agreement with SESAC. Content (previously blocked content) will be restored to the YouTube service within the next day or two. We thank you for your patience. .
“We have reached an agreement with YouTube to fairly compensate SESAC’s songwriters and publishers for the use of their music,” Scott Jungmichel, president and chief operating officer of SESAC Performance Rights, said in a statement to MBW this afternoon.
“We appreciate the support and patience of our affiliates and the artists performing these songs.”
Scott Jungmichel, SESAC Performance Rights
Jungmichel added: “We appreciate the support and patience of our affiliates and the artists performing these songs.
“During our negotiations with YouTube, our affiliate’s work was unilaterally removed by YouTube prior to the contract end date of October 1, 2024. YouTube has begun the process of restoring videos containing these songs.”
SESAC’s dispute with YouTube marks the latest standoff between the video streaming platform and charging associations.
In 2009, PRS signed a licensing deal with YouTube, bringing thousands of music videos back to the service after months of disputes.
In 2016, YouTube and German collections association GEMA reached a licensing agreement after a seven-year dispute..global music business
